A man buried in Mexico in the Ancient North America era

MX-01
Portrait reconstruction
Disclaimer: The portrait shown is a speculative reconstruction and not the actual face of the ancient sample. It represents an artistic interpretation based on archaeological data.
Specimen Details
Sample ID:
MX-01
Date:
3000 BCE - 1500 CE
Biological Sex:
Male
mtDNA:
B2a5
Y-DNA:
Q-L53
Cultural Period:
Baja California, Mexico
Location
Country:
Mexico
Locality:
Iron Springs. Baja
Coordinates:
32.5581, -116.2034
Map Location
Historical Timeline
Description

Baja California, a peninsula located in Northwestern Mexico, is intriguing when considered in the context of Mesoamerican civilizations. Unlike other regions of Mesoamerica, which were vibrant centers of advanced civilizations like the Aztecs and Mayans, Baja California presents a unique tapestry of history marked by its rugged landscapes, distinct geography, and diverse indigenous groups.

Geography and Environment:

Baja California is a long, narrow strip of land extending southward from the U.S.-Mexico border, flanked by the Pacific Ocean to the west and the Gulf of California to the east. The peninsula's geography is characterized by coastal plains, rugged mountains, expansive deserts, and isolated oases. This diverse environment significantly influenced the lifestyle, culture, and technological development of the indigenous peoples who inhabited the region. The scarcity of water, arable land, and other resources shaped a culture that was distinct from the more agriculturally affluent centers of Mesoamerica.

Indigenous Peoples and Societies:

Before European contact, the peninsula was home to a variety of indigenous groups, each with their own languages and cultural practices. These included the Cochimi, the Guaycura, the La Huerta, and the Pericu people, among others. These groups were primarily hunter-gatherers and fishermen, adapted to the arid and challenging environment of the region. Unlike their Mesoamerican counterparts, agriculture was not a central part of their lifestyle due to the harsh desert conditions and unpredictability of rainfall.

Cultural Practices and Artifacts:

The indigenous groups of Baja California developed rich cultural traditions that were well-suited to their environment. Rock art, including pictographs and petroglyphs found in the Sierra de San Francisco, provides insight into the region's early inhabitants. These artworks depict anthropomorphic figures, animals, and abstract patterns, and are considered some of the most significant archaeological sites in the region. The purpose of this rock art remains a subject of study, but it is believed to have held spiritual or ritual significance.

Social Organization and Trade:

Social organization in Baja California was largely clan-based, with a flexible social structure that promoted cooperation and resource sharing among groups. Trade was limited compared to other Mesoamerican civilizations, but there is evidence of some interaction with neighboring regions. Shells from the Gulf of California were highly valued for ornamentation and were traded to inland groups, suggesting a network of exchange that connected the peninsula to larger cultural and economic systems.

External Influences and Historical Changes:

European contact and colonization dramatically altered the cultural landscape of Baja California. The arrival of Spanish explorers and missionaries in the 16th and 17th centuries introduced new elements such as Christianity, European agricultural practices, and diseases that devastated the indigenous populations. The Jesuits, Franciscans, and Dominicans established missions throughout the peninsula, aiming to convert and assimilate the indigenous peoples. These missions became centers of community life and significantly impacted the traditional ways of living.

Legacy and Modern Significance:

Today, the legacy of the indigenous cultures of Baja California is evident in the descendants of these groups who persevere in preserving their cultural heritage. Efforts to protect language, traditions, and archaeological sites have gained momentum, providing vital links to the past. Additionally, the region's unique position as a bridge between North American and Mexican cultures has fostered a distinct cultural identity that continues to evolve.

In summary, while Baja California may not have been a nucleus of Mesoamerican civilization in the traditional sense, its cultural narrative is rich and complex. The indigenous peoples of Baja California adapted ingeniously to their environment, developing distinct cultural traditions and social structures that reflect the unique challenges and opportunities presented by the peninsula's geography.

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SC-01 Late Santa Cruz Island, California, USA 700 CE San Clemente Island. CA, USA View
SC-04 Late Santa Cruz Island, California, USA 1039 CE San Clemente Island. CA, USA View
SN-52 Late San Nicolas Island, California, USA 990 CE California. San Nicolas Island, USA View
SN-15 Late San Nicolas Island, California, USA 78 CE California. San Nicolas Island, USA View
SN-51 Late San Nicolas Island, California, USA 410 CE California. San Nicolas Island, USA View
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SN-54 Early San Nicolas Island, California, USA 2835 BCE California. San Nicolas Island, USA View
SN-39 Early San Nicolas Island, California, USA 3650 BCE California. San Nicolas Island, USA View
SC-06 Late Santa Cruz Island, California, USA 700 CE San Clemente Island. CA, USA View
SN-16 Late San Nicolas Island, California, USA 3700 BCE California. San Nicolas Island, USA View
SM-01 San Miguel Island Chumash Culture, California, USA 1286 CE San Miguel Island. CA, USA View
SN-32 Early San Nicolas Island, California, USA 3341 BCE California. San Nicolas Island, USA View
PS-03 Chumash Culture, California, USA 416 CE Point Sal. CA, USA View
SN-01 Late San Nicolas Island, California, USA 3700 BCE California. San Nicolas Island, USA View
PS-18 Chumash Culture, California, USA 100 CE Point Sal. CA, USA View
SN-38 Late San Nicolas Island, California, USA 3700 BCE California. San Nicolas Island, USA View
SN-58 Early San Nicolas Island, California, USA 3650 BCE California. San Nicolas Island, USA View
SN-59 Early San Nicolas Island, California, USA 3328 BCE California. San Nicolas Island, USA View
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SN-25 Early San Nicolas Island, California, USA 2570 BCE California. San Nicolas Island, USA View
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SN-20 Early San Nicolas Island, California, USA 3650 BCE California. San Nicolas Island, USA View
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SN-09 Late San Nicolas Island, California, USA 3700 BCE California. San Nicolas Island, USA View
SN-04 Early San Nicolas Island, California, USA 3081 BCE California. San Nicolas Island, USA View
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SN-43 Late San Nicolas Island, California, USA 795 BCE California. San Nicolas Island, USA View
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CT-02 Late Santa Cruz Island, California, USA 1400 CE San Catalina Island. CA, USA View
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SN-37 Early San Nicolas Island, California, USA 3650 BCE California. San Nicolas Island, USA View
PS-09 Chumash Culture, California, USA 100 CE Point Sal. CA, USA View
SN-56 Early San Nicolas Island, California, USA 3650 BCE California. San Nicolas Island, USA View
SN-55 Early San Nicolas Island, California, USA 3650 BCE California. San Nicolas Island, USA View
SN-31 Early San Nicolas Island, California, USA 3650 BCE California. San Nicolas Island, USA View
SN-60 Early San Nicolas Island, California, USA 2835 BCE California. San Nicolas Island, USA View
SN-41 Early San Nicolas Island, California, USA 3650 BCE California. San Nicolas Island, USA View
PS-04 Chumash Culture, California, USA 100 CE Point Sal. CA, USA View
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B-03 Pericues Culture, Mexico 3000 BCE LC-218. Baja, Mexico View
MX-01 Baja California, Mexico 3000 BCE Iron Springs. Baja, Mexico View
B-04 Baja California, Mexico 3000 BCE Comondu. Baja, Mexico View
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CK-10 Arctic Small Tool Tradition, Canada 1200 CE Lucier. Southwestern Ontario, Canada View
LU-03 Arctic Small Tool Tradition, Canada 1200 CE Lucier. Southwestern Ontario, Canada View
LU-02 Arctic Small Tool Tradition, Canada 1200 CE Lucier. Southwestern Ontario, Canada View
LU-05 Arctic Small Tool Tradition, Canada 1200 CE Lucier. Southwestern Ontario, Canada View
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CK-09 1458 CE Lucier. Southwestern Ontario, Canada View
CK-10 1200 CE Lucier. Southwestern Ontario, Canada View
CK-13 2914 BCE Lucier. Southwestern Ontario, Canada View
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CT-02 1400 CE San Catalina Island. CA, USA View
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LU-02 1200 CE Lucier. Southwestern Ontario, Canada View
LU-03 1200 CE Lucier. Southwestern Ontario, Canada View
LU-05 1200 CE Lucier. Southwestern Ontario, Canada View
LU-06 1200 CE Lucier. Southwestern Ontario, Canada View
MX-01 3000 BCE Iron Springs. Baja, Mexico View
NC 571 CE New Cuyama. CA, USA View
PS-02 100 CE Point Sal. CA, USA View
PS-03 416 CE Point Sal. CA, USA View
PS-04 100 CE Point Sal. CA, USA View
PS-06 417 CE Point Sal. CA, USA View
PS-07 422 CE Point Sal. CA, USA View
PS-09 100 CE Point Sal. CA, USA View
PS-17 100 CE Point Sal. CA, USA View
PS-18 100 CE Point Sal. CA, USA View
PS-23 100 CE Point Sal. CA, USA View
PS-26 100 CE Point Sal. CA, USA View
PS-34 100 CE Point Sal. CA, USA View
SC-01 700 CE San Clemente Island. CA, USA View
SC-02 700 CE San Clemente Island. CA, USA View
SC-03 890 CE San Clemente Island. CA, USA View
SC-04 1039 CE San Clemente Island. CA, USA View
SC-05 775 CE San Clemente Island. CA, USA View
SC-06 700 CE San Clemente Island. CA, USA View
SC-07 700 CE San Clemente Island. CA, USA View
SM-01 1286 CE San Miguel Island. CA, USA View
SM-02 1174 CE San Miguel Island. CA, USA View
SN-01 3700 BCE California. San Nicolas Island, USA View
SN-03 239 CE California. San Nicolas Island, USA View
SN-04 3081 BCE California. San Nicolas Island, USA View
SN-09 3700 BCE California. San Nicolas Island, USA View
SN-10 3700 BCE California. San Nicolas Island, USA View
SN-11 771 CE California. San Nicolas Island, USA View
SN-12 663 CE California. San Nicolas Island, USA View
SN-13 1040 CE California. San Nicolas Island, USA View
SN-15 78 CE California. San Nicolas Island, USA View
SN-16 3700 BCE California. San Nicolas Island, USA View
SN-17 3369 BCE California. San Nicolas Island, USA View
SN-20 3650 BCE California. San Nicolas Island, USA View
SN-25 2570 BCE California. San Nicolas Island, USA View
SN-31 3650 BCE California. San Nicolas Island, USA View
SN-32 3341 BCE California. San Nicolas Island, USA View
SN-37 3650 BCE California. San Nicolas Island, USA View
SN-38 3700 BCE California. San Nicolas Island, USA View
SN-41 3650 BCE California. San Nicolas Island, USA View
SN-43 795 BCE California. San Nicolas Island, USA View
SN-44 3626 BCE California. San Nicolas Island, USA View
SN-45 3650 BCE California. San Nicolas Island, USA View
SN-48 3650 BCE California. San Nicolas Island, USA View
SN-51 410 CE California. San Nicolas Island, USA View
SN-52 990 CE California. San Nicolas Island, USA View
SN-53 1165 CE California. San Nicolas Island, USA View
SN-54 2835 BCE California. San Nicolas Island, USA View
SN-55 3650 BCE California. San Nicolas Island, USA View
SN-56 3650 BCE California. San Nicolas Island, USA View
SN-57 3650 BCE California. San Nicolas Island, USA View
SN-58 3650 BCE California. San Nicolas Island, USA View
SN-59 3328 BCE California. San Nicolas Island, USA View
SN-60 2835 BCE California. San Nicolas Island, USA View
US-14 1521 CE Shohola Creek. Indian Cabin Ridge. PA, USA View
SN-50 San Nicolas Island Native American 420 CE San Nicolas Island (California), USA View
Sample ID Culture/Period Date Location Action
MX-01 Baja California, Mexico 3000 BCE Iron Springs. Baja, Mexico View
B-04 Baja California, Mexico 3000 BCE Comondu. Baja, Mexico View
Ancient Genetic Admixture

Ancient genetic admixture analysis compares the DNA profile of this individual (MX-01) with present-day reference populations. These results show what percentage of the individual's genetic makeup resembles ancient populations from different geographic regions.

Ancient Native Americans 67%
Ancient Asians 24%
Western Steppe Pastoralists 6%
Neolithic Farmers 3%
Modern Genetic Admixture

Modern genetic admixture analysis compares the DNA profile of this individual (MX-01) with present-day reference populations. These results show what percentage of the individual's genetic makeup resembles modern populations from different geographic regions.

These results complement the ancient ancestry components shown in the previous section, offering a different perspective on the individual's genetic profile by comparing it with modern reference populations rather than prehistoric ancestral groups.

America 86%
America 86%
Native American 86.1%
Asia 11%
Northern Asian 11%
Mongolian 11.3%
Africa 3%
Northern East African 1%
Ethiopian 1.3%
North African 1%
Egyptian 0.9%
West African 0%
G25 Coordinates

The G25 coordinates for the sample MX-01 are as follows. You can analyze its admixture using G25 Studio.

MX-01,0.05674612,-0.31799466,0.112021,0.09252214,-0.11273484,-0.01954318,-0.27873372,-0.3270586,-0.0113989,-0.01278302,0.00422728,-0.0003502,-0.00200308,0.0221384,-0.0069426,-0.00117884,0.00614802,0.0031976,0.00239258,-0.00086214,0.00229954,0.00327266,-0.00180392,-0.00363974,-0.00397368
Analyze it in G25 Studio
Scientific Papers References
Ancient human parallel lineages within North America contributed to a coastal expansion
Authors:
Scheib CL, Li H, Desai T
Abstract:

Little is known regarding the first people to enter the Americas and their genetic legacy. Genomic analysis of the oldest human remains from the Americas showed a direct relationship between a Clovis-related ancestral population and all modern Central and South Americans as well as a deep split separating them from North Americans in Canada. We present 91 ancient human genomes from California and Southwestern Ontario and demonstrate the existence of two distinct ancestries in North America, which possibly split south of the ice sheets. A contribution from both of these ancestral populations is found in all modern Central and South Americans. The proportions of these two ancestries in ancient and modern populations are consistent with a coastal dispersal and multiple admixture events.

Link:
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